Odyssey Essay | Essay

Morality in the Odyssey

Summary: Analyzes The Odyssey, by Homer. Compares the morals displayed by characters in the epic adventure to the traditional morals of Judeo-Christian religions and democracies.

According to the Judeo-Christian religion, it is very important to lead a moral life in order to achieve an eternal life in heaven. Judaism and Christianity have influenced our democracy today by saying that there is an emphasis on the sacred worth of an individual. All three, Judaism, Christianity, and a Democratic society, are based on equality of all people before God. However, as seen in The Odyssey, the moral laws of the Greeks weren't as emphasized or powerful. In fact, the Greeks had very little morals at all. In the time period when The Odyssey was written, it was perfectly normal for men to give into temptation, as well as to kill other men without thinking anything of it, and it there were classes of people that segregated everyone, discouraging equality of all people. When it comes to Greek society evident in The Odyssey, morals just weren't...